The sixth graders would like to thank everyone who donated to the Water for South Sudan fundraiser! We held this fundraiser to raise money for a new drill that would go to a village in Africa to drill wells. We had a successful few weeks of fundraising, and we raised a lot with a grand total of $231. We are very grateful, and as we liked to say, every penny did count!

Thursday, December 15, 2016

The outdoor temps are dropping! Please be sure that your children are leaving for school dressed appropriately, particularly considering this week's frigid temperatures. We will have indoor recess when the temperatures/wind chill drop, BUT this is a good time to remind everyone of the importance of keeping warm while waiting for the bus and after school. In view of Thursday's forecast, we encourage families to wait for the bus in a heated area, if possible, dress warm and be smart in the cold!

FYI. . . on any normal winter day, it's lots of fun for children to play in the snow. Appropriate winter recess gear is required to be part of the fun in the snow. Please be sure children have hats, mittens, snowpants, jacket and boots.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Grades K-4 will bring a paper report card home this afternoon. Please sign and return the envelope to school on Monday. You may keep the report card.

Grade 5-8 families: Trimester 1 grades are online, and you may access them by signing in to your Powerschool parent account. Parents have also received the link to confirm acknowledgement of report card day. You will receive that by email (or look under the FORMS tab on our web page).

If you were able to attend last night's Festival of the Arts, we'd like to thank you for supporting our students' accomplishments!

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Dear Friends and Families,We've been preparing for you, our guests, at tonight's Festival of the Arts (including winter concert). Kindergarten-Grade 5 should meet in their classrooms by 6 pm. Band and Senior Chorus members meet in the Music Room by 6pm. The NPTO book fair will be open at 5:30 and after the concert. We do appreciate the parents that have volunteered this week at the book fair! An NPTO wish tree is in the lobby with ornaments. If you would like to fulfill a wish for a classroom, please take one of the ornaments and send the "wish" with ornament back to school before winter break. Be sure to notice some fantastic art on our walls and in the lobby. There will also be interactive art in the lobby this evening. American Gothic--that's all I'll say!Look for the 6th grade display in the lobby, too. They are accepting donations for their service project: Water for South Sudan. Grade 6 students have been raising money to build wells "so people can have clean water to drink." In their words, "Every penny counts!" (BONUS thank you gift tonight from grade 6--coloring books. Their own coloring books were produced to show appreciation for donations.Meanwhile, also in the spirit of the season, Kindergarten and 8th grade buddies are collecting for donations for the local food pantry. A box is located near the front door. Non-perishable food items, diapers and pet food are all good examples of what they are hoping to donate to our local food pantry.Thank you, everyone, for supporting our students this evening in a variety of ways. We look forward to tonight's Festival of the Arts. The program in the gym begins at 6:15 pm!PLEASE READ ON. . . .

Kindergarten students are working with their 8th grade buddies on a food drive. Together they have made posters and have hung them around the school. The 8th grade buddies decorated boxes for donations. Look for a box by the front door. Please feel free to donate any non-perishable food items or diapers and pet food. We will collect items until the end of the day on 12/16. We appreciate any donations you can provide.For 6th grade news, read the next post . . .

On December 6, 2016, the sixth graders participated in the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is an event that hundreds of schools around the world take part in. This program was created to help students find an interest in coding and technology. Code is a very important part in technology; it is used in games, apps, and all aspects of computer technology.

During our Hour of Code, we had to solve different puzzles using certain blocks to make Moana or Maui, the Disney characters, act or move.

“It was really interesting to know that coding was actually so easy!” Izzy explained.

“It was fun and challenging but hard to drag words to make the characters move or act in a certain way,” said Cutter, one of the many students who completed the difficult challenges in the Hour of Code.

Have you ever considered having a career in coding or technology?

Did you know that careers in technology and coding are some of the highest paying jobs available? There are many opportunities to get a job in computer science!

This is what the sixth grade thought about coding and how to use this in technology:

“It was interesting to see how students engaged in the process and were problem solvers when coding became more complex,” stated Mrs. Sabina.

“Coding is awesome!” said Hunter, the first student in the sixth grade to complete the Hour of Code.

Anyone can learn how to code. We, the sixth graders, encourage you to try the Hour of Code!

Friday, December 2, 2016

Can you believe it? It's December! This week we've been thinking, planning and practicing for our upcoming Festival of the Arts (a winter concert with a touch of visual arts). We hope you'll be able to join us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8th!

Some information for parents about Thursday, December 8th:

Students should arrive by 6pm. K-5 student singers should be in their classrooms at 6pm. Grade 5 (band) - 8th grade performers should meet in the music room by 6pm.

This is a special school event and a chance for students to wear their holiday best!

The book fair will also be open in the library. Book bucks will be honored. The book fair is open before school (7:50-8:15), after school (2:40-3:00) and the evening of Festival of Arts. The book fair is brought to us by the NPTO. (Thank you!)

We have reached the end of Trimester 1. Trimester 1 reports go out Friday, December 9. Grades K-4 bring home a paper report. Grade 5-8 reports will be available online through your Powerschool parent account.